Three men stand by a locomotive, above left. Can you identify who they were? Right: A bygone landscape, left. Did you live in one of the houses? CODE: 504.91

The perplexing pictures are part of the newly-launched British Steel Collection, which has gradually been brought to life through the £1.6m British Steel Archive Project.

Project manager Dr Joan Heggie, from the University of Teesside, hopes people can reveal the “whos, wheres and whats” in the mystery pictures before memories are lost forever.

“So many of these things are time-limited,” she said. “If you don’t grasp the nettle, you lose this information not just there and then but for the next generation.

“There are going to be things that people know lots about. They might have worked in places like this, or their dad or grandad did, or maybe they lived nearby.

“We really want to dip into that local knowledge. We want people to tell us their memories.”

As the project gains momentum, researchers will also interview former steel workers and their families to preserve first-hand stories.

A “virtual museum” will be set up where people can view exhibits and swap messages with organisers and other visitors.

Launched at Corus HQ in Redcar in late June, the British Steel Collection contains more than 25,000 locally-taken photos, more than 70 cinefilms, British Steel wage-books and employment records.

It also features industrial artwork and 2,000 photos and plans of the iconic structures Teesside men produced, from the Tyne Bridge to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Artifacts date from the 1840s to the 1980s.

“I’ve been like a kid in a toy shop when I’ve been allowed in the store rooms,” added Dr Heggie. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful collection.

“Business archives are often perceived as dull and boring. This business archive however is far from dull.

“For people researching their family tree, this resource represents heaven. The vision I have for this project is unrestricted.”

A £300,000 application for more funding is currently in the pipeline and organisers say they need to drum up a further £300,000 through sponsorship and donations.

Boro’s iron history - from Japan

HE MAY live on the other side of the planet - but Japanese professor Minoru Yasumoto has become so enthralled by Middlesbrough’s heritage, he’s penned a book all about it.

The Birth of an Iron City, Middlesbrough, will be published towards the end of this year - in Japanese.

Prof Yasumoto, of Komazawa University, made several trips from Tokyo to Teesside to use material that’s now in the British Steel Archives for his research.

"Although I didn’t know much about Teesside and Middlesbrough history, I decided to work on the urbanisation and development of iron and steel industries in Middlesbrough," he said.

"It’s trajectory has been quite remarkable in terms of pace as well as the growth of industry.

"I was very impressed to realise that when compared to other Victorian cities, the history of Middlesbrough was really unique.

"I’ve been happy to learn that this time, with Heritage Lottery funds, these valuable documents which have so far been rather dispersed, are now being concentrated centrally, conserved and ready to be systematically catalogued for us to use with ease."

An English version of his book is due out next year.

Australian Caroline Mackaness of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, turned to the archive material when the Teesside-built Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated its 75th anniversary last year.

She used information about the historic bridge from the collection to put together an exhibition and a commemorative book.

I know the answer

CAN you help cast light on any of these photos?

If so, call researchers on 01642 384 478, write to British Steel Archive Project, Social Futures Institute, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BA or e-mail britishsteel@tees.ac.uk, quoting the number below the picture.

Project organisers are also keen to hear from anyone else who can share their memories of British Steel.

Keep an eye on Gazette editorial researcher Paul Delplanque’s nostalgia blog, Remember When, for more offerings from the British Steel Archive shortly.